Rapid evolution of chronic viral hepatitis into hepatocellular carcinoma after beta-interferon treatment

A 62-year-old man, affected by Chronic Active Hepatitis (discovered in 1993 ) and treated with interferon, referred to our department with increased ab dominal volume, persistent abdominal pain, continuous-remittent fever and j aundice. CT scan of the liver revealed a hypodense, not capsulated, infiltr ative, solid formation in the right lobe, US guided biopsy showed multinucl eated giant cells, with eosinophilic cytoplasm and pleomorphism of the nucl ei, arranged in several thick trabecula Lined by endothelial cells or forme d bile containing acini, In our case, the rapid evolution of chronic viral hepatitis towards HCC calls for a careful evaluation of the role of IFN the rapy, since this drug is widely used in chronic liver diseases.